<html> <body> At 04:13 PM 11/11/04, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">"often bringing it 40-50% overpull. I used to bring it up to 100% overpull"   40-50% of what?</blockquote> A-440? Avery <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">  Terry Farrell <dl> <dd>----- Original Message ----- <dd>From: <a href="mailto:deanmay@pianorebuilders.com">Dean May</a> <dd>To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</a> <dd>Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 1:22 PM <dd>Subject: RE: A-440 and Ethics. <dd>I’ve done hundreds in the last 25 years, never cracked a plate, often bringing it 40-50% overpull. I used to bring it up to 100% overpull before RCT. I never bring up center strings first, then left strings, then right strings. I always start at one end and tune all strings as I go up. <dd>  <dd>I’ve often heard about the “danger” of crack plates by unbalanced tension. I dunno, maybe it can happen. But I’ve never encountered it in pitch raises or in chip tunings on restringing jobs. <dd>  <dd>  <dd>Dean <dd>Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 <dd>PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 <dd>Terre Haute IN  47802 <dd>  <dd>-----Original Message----- <dd>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [<a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org" eudora="autourl">mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a>]On Behalf Of David Ilvedson <dd>Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 12:08 PM <dd>To: pianotech@ptg.org <dd>Subject: Re: A-440 and Ethics. <dd>  <dd>Julia, <dd>Why don't we ask the List if anyone has had a plate crack during a pitch raise.   I've been working on pianos for 30 years and it has never happened to me.   <dd>David I. <dd>  <dd>----- Original message ----------------------------------------> <dd>From: <<a href="mailto:Alpha88x@aol.com">Alpha88x@aol.com</a>> <dd>To: <<a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>> <dd>Received: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 11:18:18 EST <dd>Subject: Re: A-440 and Ethics. <dd>Greetings, <dd>            Usually, when I get a tuning call, it is a piano which hasn't been kept up the tunings on. I always ask how long since it was last tuned. They usually don't know.. especially if they have taken in an "orphan" piano. <dd>             I do not like to raise the A4 pitch on any piano more than say 1/4 a tone or so, if it's been neglectd tunings. This is because I don't want to run the risk of cracking anyone's harp plate, let alone breaking strings. Especially on the little spinets, whose plates are 5/8" or less thick. <dd>              When I get to the house, I check the A-440 and it's octaves and get an idea of the overall tone of the piano; whrere it went flat the most. I always explain the concept of A-440 to the customer, and more times than not, it doesnt matter to them if its up to A-440 or not. <dd>           They just would like it in tune with itself. I also explain that pianos are designed to be tuned to A-440 for best results. (unless it is an extremely old, dry upright that's seen better days and wont let you even gradually take it up that far, even with subsequent tunings/loose pins or bridges coming off) I tune it the best I can get it, to sound at the A-4?? and suggest subsequent tunings so we can gradually get it there. They agree to a reminder card from me for follow ups ....say, 4 to 6 mo for the first follow-up. I also inform them that with each tuning the piano becomes more stable and to never let a piano go more than 2 years max. <dd>          On hearing these pianos, they are so, so neglected and out of tune, the piano always sounds better upon my departure, and thats all alot of folks want in order to start the kid's lessons, without paying "an arm and a leg".  With customers who are more vigilant of how their piano sounds is another matter. <dd>          My tuning teacher used to say "As long as it sounds a lot better when you leave than from when you arrived". <dd>Julia, <dd>Reading, PA </dl></blockquote></body> </html>